At a Glance

Tackle all 185 miles of the C & O Canal Towpath, a route teeming with history as it makes its way along the Potomac River Basin from Washington, D.C., through Civil War sites and forgotten hamlets to Cumberland, Md., the first gateway to the West.

Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 10 to 24 participants.

Best of all, you'll ...

Delve into Chesapeake and Ohio Canal history as you ride along what remains of this engineering wonder.

Visit Great Falls, Maryland on the Potomac River for a glimpse into the early history of this country.

Stop to explore on your own at Civil War crossing sites, Harpers Ferry and other small towns.

General Notes

Bicycles, helmets and mechanical assistance provided. Due to the nature of this program, listening devices are not available.

Featured Expert

All Experts

Randy Anderson

Randy Anderson has lived his entire life in or near Williamsport, Md., which is at roughly mile 100 of the 185-mile C&O Canal Towpath. A train enthusiast, he has photographed in the Williamsport area extensively, using the same angles as historical photos of trains and the C&O Canal. Randy's multi-screen presentation allows us to simultaneously see the historical and present-day sites.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Karen Gray

View biography

Randy Anderson

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Heather Barnes

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Joan Hall

View biography

Paul McDermott

View biography

Suggested Reading List

View 4 books

The Grand Idea: George Washington's Potomac and the Race to the West

by Joel Achenbach

A fun read with lots of history and information about George Washington.

Canawlers

by James Rada, Jr

A fictitious account of life along the canal during the Civil War years of 1862. Fate takes canal boat captain Hugh away from his family, leaving his wife Alice to hold the family together. With the help of her children and orphan from Cumberland and a disillusioned Confederate soldier, they will face the dangers presented by the war, nature, and the railroad together.

Between Rail and River

by James Rada, Jr

A sequel to Rada's "Canawlers", this tale takes the Fitzgerald canal boat family through the long winter of 1862-63 as they struggle to hold a family, canal boat and business together amid the joys and dangers of life on the C&O Canal.

The C & O Canal Companion

by Mike High

A complete guide to the history of the C&O Canal National Park and its attractions - from cycling and canoeing to hiking the towpath and exploring natural wonders.

Activity note: Participants using facility's bikes will test and fit bikes and helmets.

Dinner: Enjoy dinner served buffet style with a wonderful salad bar and tasty dessert in the Lodge dining room

Evening: Get acquainted with fellow riders, rules of the trail, and your ride guides. Introduction to the C & O Canal National Park with detailed daily itineraries distributed. Time for questions and answers on the Park and the ride.

DAY

2

Bike Brunswick & Edward's Ferry, Harper's Ferry Natl. Park

Sharpsburg, MD

B,L,D

Shepherd's Spring Outdoor Ministry Center

Activity note: There will be 35 miles of cycling with five optional pull out points.

Breakfast: Enjoy a hot breakfast buffet along with fresh fruit and cereal selections in the Shepherd's Spring lodge dining room.

Morning: Bicycle from Dargan to Harpers Ferry along the scenic C&O Canal Towpath. There will be a brief amount of time for an orientation and independent exploration of historic Harpers Ferry. Then bicycle on to the lunch stop in Brunswick (12 miles). For a short distance participants will be bicycling on a section of the Appalachian Trail that coincides with the C&O Canal Towpath.

Lunch: Enjoy a delicious picnic lunch at the Brunswick Family Campground.

Afternoon: Continue cycling past the scenic and historic train station in Point of Rocks. Then - after crossing the restored historic Monocacy Aqueduct, considered one of the greatest engineering achievements of the canal - finish at Edwards Ferry (23 miles).

Dinner: Enjoy a buffet style dinner with a salad bar, followed by dessert, in the Shepherd's Spring lodge dining room.

Evening: Discover the various aspects of the C&O Canal's long history from George Washington's Pawtomack Company to a bloodline for the industrial revolution through an in depth presentation and lecture led by one of our expert instructors.

DAY

3

Bike Hist. Cumberland Term., Little Orleans By Paw Paw Tunn.

Hancock, MD

B,L

Super 8 Hancock MD

Activity note: There will be 44 miles of cycling with four optional pull out points.

Breakfast: Enjoy a hot buffet style breakfast along with fresh fruit and cereal selections in the Shepherd's Spring lodge dining room. Pack an overnight bag to take along for this one night out along the trail.

Morning: Travel to the terminus of the C&O Canal in historic downtown Cumberland, MD. There will be some time to discover the C &O Canal Museum in the historic Western Maryland Railroad Station while the bicycles are unloaded and readied for departure. Then bicycle toward Oldtown, established by early settler Thomas Cresap, for a picnic lunch (18 miles).

Lunch: Enjoy a delicious picnic lunch beside Lock 70 in Oldtown.

Afternoon: Continue bicycling past Oldtown, site of a Shawnee river crossing and an important trade route. Afterwards you will encounter the Paw Paw tunnel where you will need to dismount and walk your bicycles through (flashlights are needed). then continue the ride to Little Orleans (26 miles).

Dinner: Enjoy a dinner at a locally owned restaurant. This meal will be covered by the participant. There should be time for a quick shower at the hotel prior to leaving for dinner.

Evening: This is an evening for you to spend as you wish. Relax at the hotel after a long day's ride, or put on your walking shoes to explore Hancock on your own.

DAY

4

Bike Over the 110 ft Single Arch Fifteen Mile Creek Aqueduct

Sharpsburg, MD

B,L,D

Shepherd's Spring Outdoor Ministry Center

Activity note: There will be 57 miles of cycling with five optional pull out points.

Breakfast: Enjoy continental breakfast in the hotel lobby. Gather your things for the return to Shepherd's Spring accommodations this evening.

Morning: Bicycle from Little Orleans, across another single arch aqueduct, past historic cement mill ruins, and through Hancock. Take time to stop for a quick look at Ft. Frederick, the nation's only Revolutionary period stone fort. Lunch stop is at McCoy's Ferry (31 miles). The group may choose to travel for 20 miles along the paved Western Maryland Rail Trail which parallels the C&O Canal Towpath.

Lunch: Enjoy a tasty picnic lunch at McCoy's Ferry.

Afternoon: Continue bicycling past the Four Locks area and Dam #5, into Williamsport and the Cushwa Basin. See the Conococheague Aqueduct with one wall missing from a mishap with a canal boat, then pass an unique railroad lift bridge as well as a restored lock and lock house. Along the Big Slackwater area of the recently restored towpath a series of concrete bridges holds the reconstructed towpath. Canal boats used the river and the towpath had washed away from many years of flooding. The 17 billion dollar flood-proof restoration was completed in 2012. (26 miles). It is only a short ride from here via van (15 minutes) back to Shepherd's Spring. After showers there is time for a short visit to the highlights of Antietam National Battlefield.

Dinner: Enjoy a buffet style dinner with a salad bar, followed by dessert, in the Shepherd's Spring lodge dining room.

Evening: Delve into the relationship between the canal and the railroads during this presentation by one of our instructors. Each entity relying and competing with each other to serve the people of the area and the nation. By this time your rides will have familiarized you with many of the sites shown.

DAY

5

Bike Edwards Ferry to Georgetown

Sharpsburg, MD

B,L,D

Shepherd's Spring Outdoor Ministry Center

Activity note: There will be 30 miles of cycling with three optional pull out points.

Morning: Bicycle from Edwards Ferry to Great Falls (16 miles). There will be time to stop and walk out to the Great Falls of the Potomac -- witness their majesty and come to a new understanding of why the Potomac was not navigable. After perusing the museum at Great Falls costumed park rangers or volunteers will tell stories of canal boat captains and their adventures on the C&O.

Lunch: Enjoy an delicious picnic lunch beside the canal at Great Falls.

Afternoon: Continue bicycling to Georgetown, using the paved Crescent Trail for the last few miles of the journey. (14 miles) Watch for views of the Washington Monument and Kennedy Performing Arts Center as you near the end of today's ride.

Dinner: Return to Shepherd's Spring for a wonderful banquet meal on the last evening of the program.

Evening: Enjoy Appalachian Dulcimers, guitars and banjos as the locals jam at O'Hurley's General Store in Shepherdstown. Wonderful harmonies from many different instruments as the locals wander in and out of this unique jam session.

DAY

6

Complete C&O Journey, Program Concludes

Sharpsburg, MD

B,L

Activity note: There will be 20 miles of cycling with two optional pull out points.

Morning: Finish the 185 mile journey by bicycling the last 20 miles from Dam #4 to Dargan. Pass Civil War river crossing sites, caves, and high bluffs mixed with farm fields along the berm side of the canal. (20 miles)

Lunch: Back to Shepherd's Spring with time to shower and pack up before having lunch in the dining room. Departure after lunch.

Meals

14 Meals

5 Breakfasts

5 Lunches

4 Dinners

The following choices may be available when requested in advance: Low Fat, Low Salt, Vegetarian, Gluten Free

Lodging

Lodgings may differ by date. Select a date to see the lodgings specific to that date.

Situated along the Potomac River and C&O Canal, Shepherd's Spring has 220 acres of woodland and rolling meadows. This secluded site is a relaxing refuge for people and a haven for wildlife. Please note that Shepherd's Spring is an alcohol-free facility. Rooms are simple yet comfortable and include a luggage rack, dresser, desk, chair, and most have a futon. Each room has its own private bath along with individually controlled heating and air conditioning. Linens are provided and maid service on Wednesdays. This is optional so it is important that the participant hangs the tag on the door. There are no phones or televisions in the rooms. Part of the charm of Shepherd’s Spring is “getting away from it all” to focus on meaningful activities and ideas. The site features a natural spring as well as nature and meditation trails for hiking. There is no internet access and limited cell phone service, but a computer is available for guest use in the common area. Each room comes with its own heating/air conditioning unit. Free parking available on site. Along with the reading material specifically provided by us for the program, we have a large assortment of books in our library located on the second floor of our lodge. You can enjoy this book in our newly renovated Oasis Room. We also provide board games and puzzles if entertainment is desired on site, beyond what is scheduled.

Make yourself at home in one of the 50 air-conditioned rooms featuring refrigerators and microwaves. Your room comes with a pillow top bed. Complimentary wireless Internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming is available for your entertainment. Private bathrooms with shower/tub combinations feature complimentary toiletries and hair dryers. A complimentary continental breakfast is served daily. Outdoor water source available to clean bikes if needed

This was an excellent program...great rides on a great path...challenging program but worthwhile...can't wait to do another program with roadscholar (this was our fifth and we are already enrolled in 2 more!)

Wonderful experience. This was my first Road Scholar trip and I guarantee, it will not be my last. I was a little nervous at first, since it was rated 'challenging'. I am in pretty good shape so I was hoping for the best. The description of the activity level was very accurate. They kept us busy every day. The leaders of our ride 'Joan' & 'Jeff' were outstanding. The kept the pace of the ride at a level that made the trip enjoyable to everyone. The staff at the facility were equally outstanding, Rick, Larry, & Heather. Probably the biggest surprise of the entire trip was the food. Chef Tom turned what I thought would be "summer camp food" into one of the finest gourmet dinning experiences I've ever had the pleasure of eating. It seemed like everyday got better and better. The facility was modest but very clean. Being my first trip I didn't know what the social interaction with the other riders would be. I can't believe what a fantastic group of interesting people I met during this trip. I had a chance to talk with every person on the trip and everyone was so friendly. We left exchanging email addresses and promising to let the others know when we would be taking future trips. I would love to see all of these people again some day. If you are on the fence about taking a Road Scholar trip, don't be. Do it, you won't regret it!

Great trip! Although the participants had a moderate range of biking experience, trip is geared to increase distance from 30 miles/day to more than 60. The leaders ensured that no one was pushed or felt like they were holding the trip up. Evening lectures were informative and entertaining. All the participants were very friendly. There were many opportunities to bike leisurely of push hard and to ride with one or two others at a conversational pace or ride alone at a more meditative pace. Well worth the expense.

Bicycling the entire C & O Canal trip was very enjoyable trip. My fellow travelers were all enthusiastic bikers and learners. We had so many opportunities to learn the history of the canal, railroad, as well as enjoy the rich Civil War history in the area.